Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-11-18

"Bixport's right ahead there.
where You see the meetin'-house
steeple over the tree-tops. yonder."
said Captain Flagg. pointing ahead,
land / can tell you, Tad, when mans
ben facin' the dangers of the bolster
Gus ocean rs we sailors has TO, the
words of the poet Shakespeare:
"Honle ag'in-home ag'in,
From & furrin Shore,
And oh. it fills my soul with Joy
To see my fren's once more"
goes to the right spot"
Tad respectfully replied that he was
sure they must, and, at the same time,
gave little involuntary sigh as he re-
mcmbered his own homeless condition.
"But, may be, can get a chance with
a real clever man, and, if I'm smart.
save up my money, and some day buy
little house of my own," thought Tad,
who had rather a hopeful disposition.
And so, with the same interest that he
had ,,iven to the sights on the great
deep. Tad watched the to him almost
equally novel scenes on the shores
which they were passing-scenes that,
though perfectly familiar, were hailed
with the enthusiasm of voyagers re-
turning from at least three years
cruise, by the entire ships company.
"John Doty's got tho same old
whiteface COW" Che pronounced it
kaow) "he had when he went away;
he talked of swappin' with Ozias Nas'n,
one SPELL" said Eph, as the schooner.
drifting slowly with the tide. was borne
within cables length of the shore,
where number OF cows were brows-
ing on the short pasturc-grass, which
grew down within few feet of high
water mark.
square Halls had the line fence
'twixt him and old Burton white
washed. l Sec" Captain Flagg OBJ
served, as he stood with his eagle eye
glancing shoreward through the can
vas-covered telescope.
And as the MARY j." very deliber-
a:cly rounded n densely wooded point,
aided by light breeze which had be-
gun to fill the schooncr's sails, and the
town of Bixport appeared in full view,
even Polly recognized with rapture that
the roof of the school-house had been
newly shingled.
"For this and all other mercies the
Lord make us truly grateful" said
Captain Flagg, reverently, as he took
of his oil-skin hat, in which it was
popularity believed he slept while
voyaging over the main.
This was his invariable form of
thanksgiving, as soon as Bixport wharf
was sighted, and with its utteranco
Captain Flagg dove into the cabin,
there to throw aside, with his seafaring
attire. the weighty responsibilities of
the voyage.
Ten minutes later, as the MARY j."
neared the wharf, where half of the
residents Of Bixport seemed to have
assembled, Captain Flagg reappeared
on deck in his go-ashore suit, consist
ing of a tall hat. a crumpled suit Of
navy-blue. and low-quartered shoes
highly polished. In q commanding
voice the Captain gave the necessary
orders for bringing the schooner along
side the wharf. Down came the dingy
sails. and half-dozen pairs of hands
were extended to catch the lines
thrown from tho deck. Enthusiastic
were the greetings extended to the
ships company. for the quiet of the
little inland village had never been
disturbed by the locomoti, e's scream
or the sound of steamers paddles,
and the arrival of the only sailing
packet between Bixport and Boston
was an event of considerable impor-
lance. There were on board at least
three large boxes Of dry good. a case Of
millinery, a hogshead of molasses, and
other groceries in proportion. for Mr..
Jones, the store-kceper; Mr.. Allen, the
minister, had package of books;
'Zias Mason. q new harness, and
Deacon Whitney, mowing-machine-
the first of its kind ever seen in Bixport.
Among those assembled on the
wharf, Tad noticed boy about his own
age. dressed in a well-worn suit Of
tweed. He had curly hair, q pair Of
very laughing blue eyes. a turn-up
nose and a freckled face. Most promi-
nent in voice and action was this youth,
who. upon catching sight of Eph. per-
formed a shuttle suggestive of delight,
and in very audible voice called out:
Hooray-three cheers for Ephrain Small.
First mate, second mate, crew and air"
"That's my cousin-Joe Whitney,"
laughed Polly. as Master Joe proceed
ed in vigorous pantomime to express
unbounded joy at seeing Polly. who
waved her hand in recognition.
To he continued